John gunning



No. 6|5,l64. Patented Nbv. 29, 1898. aurmme.

TIME LIGHT EXTINGUISHER.

(Application filed. Nov. 10, 1897.)

fig. 2

(No Model.)

witnesses Inventor "m: uonms PETERS coy. PnoToumu. WASNKNG'TON, n. c.

UNrrnn STATES PATENT OFFER.

JOHN GUNNING, OF BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND.

TIME LIGHT-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,164, dated November 29, 1898. Application filed November 10, 1897. fierial No. 658,082. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN GUNNING, a citizen of England, residing at No. 100 Holdenhurst road, Bournemouth, in the county of Hants, England, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Extinguishing Lights at a Predetermined Time, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for extinguishing lights at a predetermined time. For this purposeIprovide suitable clockwork arranged with a detent appliance which can be set at a predetermined time, so that when that time arrives this detent acts on a valve or cook in a gas service-pipe or on a cut-off switch in the conductor for electrical lights, thus causing their extinction.

The accompanying drawings show my invention applied to a gas service-pipe for cffecting its closure afterapredetermined number of hours.

Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a front view with the cover removed to show the interior. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

The gas service-pipe A A has a valve-chamber provided with a conical valve B, to the stem of which is attached a head or button 0. \Vithin acasingD, through which the servicepipe passes, is clockwork E, driven bya spring F at a speed determined by an escapement and balance-wheel in the usual way, the speed being preferably such that the spindle of the mainspring revolves once in twenty four hours. On this spindle is fixed a disk G, having a number of holes circularly arranged and marked with numerals indicating hours. This disk has at one part of its circumference a projection H, and on its boss is fitted free to turn an arm I, which can be held in any desired position on the face of the disk by a pin J, inserted through it into one of the holes of the disk. Outside the casing D a wheel K is fixed on the spindle of the mainspring, and to this wheel may be attached a chain for turning the wheel froma distance.

The apparatus operates in the following manner: If it be desired to extinguish the lights after a certain number of hours, such as ten hours, the cover of the casing is opened and the arm I is fixed in a position showing at its left side the numeral 10. The cover being then closed, the wheel K is put on the spindle and turned in the direction of the arrow either by hand or, if it be out of reach, by pulling the chain. By this movement the spring is wound up, and the projection H, acting on the head 0, opens the valve, allowing gas to pass to the burners. On releasing the wheel the disk is turned by the spring in the direction of the arrow at a speed determined by the clockwork until the arm I comes to act on the head 0, pushing it up, and so closing the valve and extinguishing all the lights supplied by the service-pipe.

Obviously in case of electric lighting it is only necessary to substitute a suitable switch for the gas-valve, the winding-up action moving the switch so as to close the circuit, and the reverse movement of the arm I moving the switch so as to open the circuit through a conductor which takes the place of the gas service-pipe.

Although I have described the apparatus as arranged to operate a gas-valve, it may obviously be applied to the working of an electric switch in cases where electric lights are employed instead of gas-lights.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and the best means I know of carrying the sameinto practical efiect, I claim-- The combination with a gas-valve, of a spindle adjacent thereto and connected with clockwork, an actuating-spring surrounding the spindle, a disk secured to the spindle and having a swinging arm arranged to be secured to it in different positions, a case surrounding the above-named parts, and an external wheel upon the spindle arranged to partially rotate the disk so as to open the gas-valve and at the same time wind up the spring; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 27th day of October, A. D. 1897.

JOHN GUNNING.

Witnesses: ROBERT D. GREENHILL, GEORGE CONWAY. 

